Derek McInnes

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As time goes on, Aberdeen's McInnes becomes a more realistic option in the eyes of the Rangers support. Caixinha's downfall was his inability to ever put a winning run of games together. The former Ibrox star has had no problem with that in the Granite City.

No manager outside the big two in Glasgow has been as consistent as McInnes since the 1980s. This is a boss who squeezes every inch of effort from his players and has transformed Scotland's sleeping football giant into the second best team in the country.

Despite starting his life at Pittodrie with silverware after lifting the 2014 League Cup, McInnes' tenure has been blighted with a host of near misses with the Dons, but his steely determination for success is exactly what Rangers have been lacking. Three consecutive second-placed finishes is mightily impressive and there is no reason to believe McInnes couldn't get Rangers challenging Celtic again.

Mikel Arteta

Would Mikel Arteta return to Rangers?

An unproven manager may be the last thing Rangers need, but there's no doubt the former Ibrox pass master would get the fans excited. Pep Guardiola plucked the Spaniard from Arsenal and offered him a prime coaching position with Manchester City. Arteta was schooled in Barcelona and has extensive experience in British football. He's highly regarded within the Etihad, but convincing the 35-year-old to return to Glasgow could be challenging.

He's got a first row ticket to a daily masterclass from one of the best managers in the world. He was a fans’ favourite at Rangers, but he's not one of the former stars of that era who lives and breathes the club after their departure. If he turns out to be as good as his mentor and the Light Blues can convince him then it could be a masterstroke.

Sam Allardyce

Big Sam may be tempted with a move to Rangers (Image: Getty)

Many Scotland fans were open to the idea of Allardyce taking charge of the national team after Gordon Strachan left. Big Sam ruled himself out of that one, but would the chance to manage Rangers and go head-to-head with Brendan Rodgers appeal? It certainly sounds like box office.

There's a feeling Allardyce is waiting for the perfect job, that he is in no rush to return to the dugout after abruptly cutting short his time at Crystal Palace. He's a magnetic personality and you know he'll be desperate to prove to everyone he's still got it. Allardyce has spent a career avoiding relegation so a title bid would certainly whet the appetite.

Frank de Boer

Frank de Boer's stock has plummeted (Image: FC Internazionale)

A former player who won five consecutive league titles with Ajax certainly sounds appealing, but de Boer's stock is at an all-time low. Nightmare sojourns with Inter and Crystal Palace has left the Dutch legend's reputation as one of the best young managers in the business in tatters.

Everyone loves a comeback and de Boer needs to start somewhere. He followed his brother to Glasgow as a player, but the Dutch invasion he was a part of is long gone. He won't be familiar with the current squad and if he gets it wrong then another opportunity may never arise. It would be gamble for both the manager and the club.

Tommy Wright

Tommy Wright is underrated and is due a shot with a big club (Image: SNS Group)

He's not the sexy choice, but Wright is right behind Brendan Rodgers and McInnes in terms of the managers who have had the biggest impact in Scottish football in recent seasons.

The Northern Irishman quietly replaced Steve Lomas in 2013 and continues to work wonders both in terms of recruitment and results on the pitch. The former goalkeeper is a safe pair of hands in the dugout and is a shrewd operator in the transfer market.

He's been waiting for his big moment and while he wouldn't be a box office choice, there's no doubt he looks ready for a real challenge.

Alex McLeish

He admitted he would have been keen to return to the Ibrox dugout before the arrival of Caixinha. The former Scotland coach has had some bumps along the rocky road of management but in many ways his record is underrated.

He produced a team with verve and swagger which put a dent in Martin O'Neill's Celtic first time around and his tenure as Scotland boss was highly impressive, including the famous win against France. That was 10 years ago and there's a feeling amongst the Gers faithful that Big Eck would be nothing more than a stop-gap.

When he replaced Dick Advocaat almost 16 years ago he had to clear the decks. He led an underachieving side to five trophies in two seasons. Could he do the same again?

Patrick Vieira

Vieira has learned the ropes in the MLS (Image: AFP)

This could be a bit of blue sky thinking from Rangers director of football Mark Allen. The former Manchester City academy man knows the Arsenal legend well from his time at the Etihad.

Viera is turning heads Stateside as his New York City side are one of the favourites for the MLS title this season. He's been involved in the football project created by City's owners who also control the American side for a number of years and could still have a pivotal role to play with the Premier League side in the future.

His reputation as a combative midfielder has been replaced with a deep thinker on the touchline and there's no doubt he would command total respect in the changing room.

Chris Coleman

The Rangers job could appeal to Chris Coleman (Image: REUTERS)

A name that might surprise some. Coleman is caught between a rock and a hard place after Wales failed to qualify for the World Cup. The success of leading his country to the semi-finals of Euro 2016 is still fresh in people's minds but another bad qualifying campaign could see his stock plummet.

He certainly has the chops and has married quality players with tireless workers to real effect at international level. The former Fulham boss has been linked with a host of jobs down south, but he knows how short a shelf life a Premier League boss has now and could be looking for something he can really sink his teeth into.

Billy Davies

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He's been on the outside looking in after leaving Nottingham Forest in 2014 and has been linked with a host of vacancies in that time.

Davies isn't without his critics, but he has a proven track record of getting results in English football and would love the chance to return with a high profile gig at Rangers.

He admitted that the Hearts job slipped away after he said he would shake things up in terms of the coaching staff and that kind of maverick thinking may not be for everyone. He’s the bookies’ favourite.